Sapsali vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Sapsali vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed ComparisonIrish Wolfhound is originated from Ireland but Sapsali is originated from North Korea. Irish Wolfhound may grow 26 cm / 11 inches higher than Sapsali. Irish Wolfhound may weigh 27 kg / 60 pounds more than Sapsali. Both Irish Wolfhound and Sapsali has almost same life span. Irish Wolfhound may have less litter size than Sapsali. Both Irish Wolfhound and Sapsali requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Miscellaneous dogs
undefined
Ireland
North Korea
Height Male:
81 - 86 cm
31 - 34 inches
48 - 60 cm
18 - 24 inches
Height Female:
81 - 86 cm
31 - 34 inches
48 - 60 cm
18 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
16 - 27 kg
35 - 60 pounds
Weight Female:
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
16 - 27 kg
35 - 60 pounds
Life Span:
6 - 10 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 4
4 - 7
Size:
Giant
Medium
Other Names:
None
Sapsaree , Lion Dog
Colors Available:
red, black or brindle, grey, white, Fawn
reddish, Solid colors, brown and black, mixture of blonde
Coat:
Medium length, straight to wavy and wiry
Long and dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

irish wolfhoundIt is believed that the Irish Wolfhound is an ancient breed and that it was brought to Ireland as early as 7000 BC.

These dogs were bred as hunting dogs as well as guard dogs. There was a time when these huge canines were only allowed to be owned by the nobility. The breed died out somewhat, but Scotsman Captain George Augustus Graham made efforts to restore the breed’s numbers.

Captain Graham devoted his life to making sure the Irish Wolfhound’s numbers were built up, and the breeding program included Great Danes, Borzois, English Mastiffs and Scottish Deerhounds.

sapsaliEarly documentation of this dog tells us that it has been around for centuries and is therefore an ancient breed.

The Sapsali is a dog that comes from Korea and is also known as the Lion Dog, Sapsaree and Sapsal Gae. It is believed that these dogs were used to dispel evil spirits or ghosts.

The dog was given the status as National Treasure by the Korean Government in 1992 and is recognized by a number of local Korean dog societies. The dog isn’t however recognized by any of the major kennel clubs, but is affiliated with the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI).

When Korea was under Japanese rule, the dogs were slaughtered to make coats for its military and almost became extinct. Kennels were set up and the dog was revived again in the 1980s.

Description

irish wolfhound puppy - descriptionThe tallest of the sighthounds, the Irish Wolfhound looks like a large Greyhound, only he has a rough, wiry type of coat.

He is also gracefully built and known as a gentle giant. The double coat which can be fawn, red, white, grey, black or brindle is straight to wavy.

He stands at about 81 to 86cm and weighs roughly 48 to 54kg. This is one of the few dog breeds that you can’t really call social. He loves his own human family, and becomes unhappy and ‘down-in-the-dumps’ when separated from his family members for too long. He is a quiet dog who tends to be somewhat introverted and reserved, while being highly intelligent.

He will require being trained and socialized to make him obedient as he is an independent dog. He takes his role as family protector seriously and even though he is quiet, he is ready to take on anyone who threatens his property.

Temperament:

The Irish Wolfhound is a gentle, quiet, soft-natured, easy-going dog and even though it is such a large dog, it doesn’t throw it’s weight around but is calm and patient around the elderly and children in the home. It can tend to be aggressive with animals he isn’t familiar with.

He is an intelligent dog, but even so he may be quite resistant to training as he is strong-willed and determined to have his own way. These dogs need to be trained and socialized otherwise they just do their own thing.

sapsali puppy - descriptionThe Sapsali is a medium sized sheepdog standing at between 48 and 60cm in height and weighing between 16 and 27kg. He is a strong looking dog with the coat being long and dense and coming in quite a few color varieties. The coat can be solid in color but it can also be a mixture of blonde, reddish, brown and black. The hair of the dog also falls over the eyes.

The dog has large eyes, the ears are also fairly large and the tail is long and held straight or down.

Temperament:

The dog is friendly, social and playful and also loving and loyal towards his human family. He is protective too and makes a good watchdog, but is never aggressive.

He gets on well with children as well as with other dogs. Training and socialization ensure obedience and good behavior and with a desire to please.

They’re intelligent dogs and training is easy. They’re gentle dogs too and this has made them a popular choice for therapy dogs. Their loving natures have been welcomed by patients suffering with trauma and the dog connects strongly with these people.

When back home he wants to be included in all the family activities. He is quite energetic and will require exercise every day – walks, hikes, frisbee, ball and rope games as well as more hectic hikes. He makes a good choice for the first time dog owner but is better suited to life in the suburbs or the countryside as opposed to being on a small property in the city.

Characteristics

irish wolfhound dog - characteristicsThe most notable aspect of the Irish Wolfhound is his amazing height. The legs are long, the body narrow. He is gentle and easy-going but because he is a sighthound he loves to give chase after animals.

He is capable of living in the city or countryside, but your home will need to cater to his size. He isn’t particularly energetic, enjoying a quiet life but he will absolutely need to be exercised.

Provide your gentle giant with everything needed to make him content, and you’ll have a faithful, loving friend for about 10 years.

sapsali dog - characteristicsThe beautiful Sapsali is a friendly, loving dog breed who is just a little bit wary around strangers.

If he senses his master is alright around strangers, he will accept them too.

He is both protector and guard dog and gets on well with all members of the household. Apart from the long coat which can be a bit of a handful, this dog ticks all the right boxes in terms of being a most splendid family pet.

Health Problems

irish wolfhound puppies - health problemsOne wonders why breeders seem so bent on breeding such large dogs when they have health issues and they don't live particularly long. Not only do they cost a fortune to feed, but large dogs like this are more prone to illnesses and won’t live as long as small dog breeds. This big dog can live up to 10 years of age or so.

For starters, just because he is a deep chested dog, bloat or gastric torsion can be a threat. Other illnesses to look out for are dilated cardiomyopathy and bone cancer.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy:

This is a disease of the heart muscle where the enlarged heart won’t function properly. The upper- and lower chambers of the heart are enlarged and the heart isn’t able to pump blood out properly. When the heart’s ventricle doesn’t pump enough blood into the lungs, fluid accumulates in the lungs and this ultimately leads to congestive heart failure.

Older dogs battle more with this heart disease and it is also more common in some dog breeds of which the Irish Wolfhound is one. Your dog will have shortness of breath, coughing and abdominal distension. He will need to get to the vet for medical tests.

Bone Cancer:

Bone cancer can strike any dog, but you’ll find in more commonly with larger dog breeds. It can spread quickly and the long term prognosis isn’t good. It’s not easy to pick the disease up and it can mean joint pain for your pet and even lameness.

Your dog will be tired too. Your vet will do X-rays and other tests, but unfortunately the prognosis isn’t usually good. Big-dog breeders should take this into consideration.

sapsali puppies - health problemsThe Sapsali can live to be between 10 and 12 years of age, being a healthy breed. Like all purebreds, the dog will experience some health concerns, among which are heart disease, obesity, bloat, hip dysplasia and skin problems among others.

Heart Disease:

Dogs get heart disease just like human beings. The most common form of heart disease in dogs is valvular disease. Essentially it affects small breed dogs. Heartworm disease and dilated cardiomyopathy are also common forms of heart disease.

Sometimes there are symptoms and sometimes there aren’t, but as heart disease progresses it turns to congestive heart failure – the heart not being able to meet the body’s demands. Signs of this can be fatigue, difficulty with breathing, loss of appetite and weight loss, coughing and a distended abdomen.

If you see these signs, your pet will need to get to the vet. There is no cure for congestive heart failure but there are medications which can help the heart work better.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

irish wolfhound dogs - caringThis isn’t a particularly energetic dog and he can tend to become lazy. Don’t allow this as becoming unfit and overweight can be very bad for such large dog. Being so large already puts stress on the dog’s body, and the dog is already susceptible to cardiac and skeletal problems. Allowing him to become lazy and overweight will be a death sentence for this large dog. It is imperative to make sure you take him on walks and play games with him.

Grooming:

The coat of your dog is thick and medium length and he will require being brushed at least twice a week. You may want to also trim the longer hair you find around his face and legs.

When it comes to his ears, you can moisten some cotton wool and wipe the inside of his ears to remove dirt and excess wax. Remember not to probe too deeply to avoid damaging the ear. If you’re uncertain how to do this, your vet can explain to you how its done.

Check his teeth regularly as dental disease can affect other areas of the body too. Don’t allow his nails to get too long as they can cause paw problems and the nails can hook onto things and cause injury.

Diet:

Because this is a giant breed, the puppy will grow for a long time. Speak to your vet about how to ensure you feed your puppy in such a way that he doesn’t grow too quickly.

If you feed your dog a commercially manufactured food, make sure its one of the top quality brands. Include home-made cooked food such as chicken, rice and vegetables into his kibble from time to time, and also try to feed him some raw meat occasionally.

Fresh, cool water must be available to your Irish Wolfhound around the clock.

Grooming:

sapsali dogs - caringThe Sapsali is covered in thick, long hair and the coat is going to require a lot of attention. It will be better to give the coat a brush every day as the coat can become very matted and tangled. The dog is also a heavy shedder so a regular brush will help to get rid of all that loose hair.

The Sapsali will need to have his ears, eyes and teeth regularly checked to ensure they are clear of any infection and to prevent any illnesses. A bad tooth can create many health issues throughout the dog’s body.

You can enhance your dog’s health by giving him good food. Commercially manufactured dog foods can be a good, convenient choice, more so if you choose the high quality ones known for their natural, quality ingredients.

To provide your dog with just a bit of variety in his diet, some home-made food added into the dry kibble from time to time will delight your pet. No need to make preparing the food a huge issue either. Boil brown rice and chicken in a pot and add in sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach.

Chop all this up and as a treat, add smaller portions of it into the dry kibble when you want to treat your dog. To avoid skin infections, try to include some raw meat into his diet occasionally. Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Irish Wolfhound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Irish Wolfhound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Irish Wolfhound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Irish Wolfhound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Irish Wolfhound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Irish Wolfhound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Irish Wolfhound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Irish Wolfhound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Irish Wolfhound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Irish Wolfhound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Irish Wolfhound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Irish Wolfhound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Irish Wolfhound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Irish Wolfhound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Irish Wolfhound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Irish Wolfhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Irish Wolfhound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Irish Wolfhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Irish Wolfhound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Irish Wolfhound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Irish Wolfhound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Irish Wolfhound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Irish Wolfhound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Irish Wolfhound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Irish Wolfhound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Sapsali vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Sapsali vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Sapsali vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Sapsali vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Sapsali vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Sapsali vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Sapsali vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Sapsali vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Sapsali vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Sapsali vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Sapsali vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Sapsali vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Sapsali vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Sapsali vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Sapsali vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Sapsali vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Sapsali vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Sapsali vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Sapsali vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Sapsali vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Sapsali vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Sapsali vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Sapsali vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Sapsali vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Sapsali vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison